Is Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill part of reclaiming the 7 mountains of culture? – Part One

When the motion to introduce the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was introduced in the Ugandan Parliament on April 29, several key supporters of the bill were sitting in the gallery. The minutes record the following description:

Let us hear from hon. Bahati. In connection with the motion he is moving, we have in the gallery Apostle Julius Peter Oyet, Vice-President of the Born Again Federation; Pastor Dr Martin Sempa of the Family Policy Centre; Stephen Langa, Family Life Network; hon. Godfrey Nyakaana; the Mayor of Kampala City Council; Julius, a young boy who was sodomised, and his mother. His story has been in the press. They are all here in the gallery. Please, let us deal with them so that they can leave. There is also George Oundo who came out to speak against homosexuality. Please, let us balance the public good and our good since all of them are important. We shall do them all very quickly. Hon. Bahati.

Martin Ssempa and Stephen Langa are well known to those who have been following this story. Ssempa has been a vocal supporter from the time of the first reading of the bill in October and Langa was the organizer of the ex-gay conference in March which primed the Parliament for the introduction of the bill. However, the minister mentioned first, Julius Oyet, has not been as prominent in his support for the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. However, he was one of the key ministers to support the introduction of the bill. Oyet is a self-designated Apostle and leader of the Lifeline Ministries. He has found favor with President Museveni for praying against areas of Northern Uganda once controlled by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army. Oyet’s Born Again Federation in Uganda oversees over 10,000 churches and estimates 9 million Christians attend these churches.

Oyet’s organization has an ambitious program to be achieved by year 2020. Much of they want to do will no doubt benefit many people. One plank will sound familiar to those who read the post yesterday.

Kingdom-Minded: Priorities are revealed in the proportionate use of time, funds and abilities directed to seeking His Kingdom with a perspective that intends to His Pleasure. The Kingdom must be our top priority, the principal thing to place before others as most important. To establish The Kingdom of God on the earth, we must claim and possess The Seven Mountains of Culture namely: Business, Government, Religion, Family, Media, Education and Entertainment.

Yesterday, I reported that Extreme Prophetic promotes the “7 mountains strategy.” Note that Oyet’s vision for 2020 is a reflection of the same 7 mountains teaching expressed by Extreme Prophetic. Extreme Prophetic and Julius Oyet promote the view that Christians are to infiltrate the various spheres of culture (e.g., the government) and administrate them as apostles of Christ.

This viewpoint seems to be quite popular among those who follow C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation. Wagner is the Presiding Apostle for the International Council of Apostles, a subsidiary of Global Harvest Ministries which admits new apostles by invitation only.

Wagner’s 2008 book Dominion: How Kingdom Action Can Change the World, is described by the publisher as an exploration of “the biblical roots of dominion theology.” According to Wagner, the task of the church is less about individual salvation and more about taking dominion over the culture by reclaiming seven domains: family, business, arts & entertainment, government, media, education, and religion.

In addition to C. Peter Wagner, Extreme Prophetic and Lance Wallnau, there are other writers and ministries which promote the seven mountains strategy. One I came across researching Uganda is called Reclaiming the 7 Mountains of Culture which is an offshoot of Os Hillman’s Marketplace Ministries. A brief description of the 7 mountains teaching can be found in their You Tube promotional video.

My intention today is to provide more information regarding the 7 mountains strategy and note the link to Rev. Oyet. While there is no direct link to the bill that I have found as yet, I think it is important to consider how reclaiming the mountain of government teaching would be expressed in Uganda. Tomorrow, I will note additional relationships between Apostle Oyet and Americans who promote the 7 mountains teaching.

Unless you apply the parable of the talents…and all Christians have specific skills in the 7 mountains…

Interesting that the video emphasizes business as the first mountain…eek.

I liked it better when fundamentalists were concerned with holiness, humility, repentance and service.

I was always troubled by the pressure to view the world as “always decaying…and running from God” and the pressure to drive the world to God.

I think I am on the verge of rethinking many things.

http://www.wthrockmorton.com Warren

I have yet to fact check this with anyone who knew Bill Bright or Francis Schaeffer but this is not what I remember from Schaeffer. Essentially, the world view stuff meant that Christians should go into all fields and be the best at them for spiritual rewards and witness. This sounds like a Man from U.N.C.L.E. kind of Christianity with a secret handshake and stuff.

Lynn David

Dominionism…. and yet he perhaps does some good work in Uganda.

At first glance looking at Oyet’s website, one gets the idea that it is mostly one large, slick advertisement. Perhaps that is because it is “Powered by the NetMinistry Website Platform.” Likely once you get into the website, it is about the work and his beliefs, and less about his need for money.

…

Lynn David

The story of the boy, Julius Auma, is disturbing.

I understand why they want to keep victims anonymous. And I much agree when a youth is involved. But at the same time they have written the bill such that someone who may be of age and had consentual sex with another person may be considered a victim to be kept anonymous. This bill is thus quite wrong in considering pedophilia and consentual adult sex under the same act.

And speaking of which:

Mr Herman Kalule Kirumira, the area youth councillor appeared in Entebbe court early this week on charges of molesting the pupil but hearing of the case was pushed to May 4, reportedly to allow the presiding magistrate Steven Waidubba attend a workshop. The suspect has been charged with having unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor against the order of nature, an offence for which under the Ugandan law, one could face life imprisonment if convicted by court.

Who said that boy’s weren’t protected under the law? Oh yeah… Langa, Ssempa, and many others. The bill is superfluous, except to call things homosexuality which aren’t, tie it together with homosexuality, and then outlaw any advocacy. The stuff about making counselors, priests, etc. out as criminals is simply to radicialize the population further against homosexuality and help create the pogrom they haven’t yet been able to produce.

Peter D

Mr. Warren Throckmorton,

You are really a frustrated American. Please for goodness sake you taught at Groove City college where you would have known the Christian perspective of Homosexuality. Frustrated man why would you want to discredit, Mr Rick Warren, Ssempa and Langa? I used to respect you but ever since then, the respect is long gone. You are an embarassment to Groove City College. I regret having gone under your leadership.

It is good to fully understand why Uganda hates homosexuality. Study their cultures before rising up to condemn an innocent nation. And remember, the best leaders in a community

RM

This Seven Mountains concept is probably lifted from a Marxist source of some kind- Marx or Engels, Gramsci, Lenin, or (my guess as most likely) Mao’s Little Red Book.

http://twitter.com/shadowspeak Todd

How many innocent people have to die before the world recognizes the sickness of religion? Religion is sick and twisted, and the situation in Uganda is just one more example.

Concerned about child molestation. How about we make the catholic church illegal?

Concerned about violence? How about Northern Ireland or Serbia? Countries where violence was the direct result of religious differences.

” It is good to fully understand why Uganda hates homosexuality. Study their cultures before rising up to condemn an innocent nation.”

I know what makes them hate: religion. Religion is the greatest evil to ever be created by mankind.

And, you know what, religious people? I really really hate all of you.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton Warren

Todd – Normally, I dont allow hate speech to be posted but I thought yours was an especially ironic comment.

You are posting on a religious person’s site who is vocally opposing for primarily religious reaons the bill you are posting about.

You are against religion because it makes people hate but you hate. You must be of some religion then.

Sorry to break it to you.

Tyler

this 7 mountains strategy sounds remarkably like the strategy pursued by the Fellowship or the Family as reported by Jeff Sharlett. Is there a connection, or is this a common belief/strategy among evangelicals?